oldmanfan

I thought either Davis or Johnson if they cut both Codrington and Shenault. I’m surprised they are keeping a guy just for returns, although he did impress me last season.

Really surprised by Coddrington. Figured Davis would return. And I think my man Ingram is going to surprise folks.

Our new Hollins. He’ll make an impact.

My thoughts: 1. Trubiski is the clear #2, and if Josh goes down we’ve got trouble like pretty much every other team with a great WB 2. O line: There is nothing from camp saying Brown has a lingering concern. He didn’t play much in preseason like every other starter. And we have good backups in Anderson, Grable, and maybe Lundt. 3. If we’re worried about who our 4-6 WRs are that’s a good problem to have. Shavers should clearly be on the roster; he is this year’s Hollins. Shakir should be ready opening day, Coleman had a great camp, Kincaid and Knox are ready, and we have three RBs that are adept at pass catching. Plus the reigning league MVP at QB. Not worried about the pass game at all. 4. Safety: It will be Rapp and Bishop. Rapp is solid and you have to put the young players like Bishop on the field. We were all somewhat spoiled by how great Hyde and Poyer were together. 5. CB: if White is out for awhile I expect Beane to bring in another guy. But I also think Ingram can provide decent play there. 6. Returner: I don’t expect either Shenault or Coddrington; they’ll have Davis or Johnson do that. Shenault May have a shot. 7. We added a ton of talent to the D line. The two rookie DTs look like they are going to be a big help, and Bosa looks healthy. Plus I think Babich is going to use more blitz packages. We should get to the QB more and that will help the DBs. And the increased talent at DT should help the run defense. 8. Bass looks like he has recovered and has two weeks before the first game. No problems there. i don’t see any reason to project gloom. We are a talented team and should have a great shot at the Lombardi.

My fellow UB alums Lewis and Ingram will play, and will do just fine.

On Hard Knocks McD said guys will earn time by their play. Shavers embodies that philosophy; he has busted his butt and made a lot of good plays in pre-season. If he gets cut I don’t know how McD faces the team.

I think they do an injury settlement with Samuel

A member of The Hall of Very Good

Really good stuff here. My thought in starting this thread is that it seemed to me we were vulnerable to the quicker passing game, with QBs getting the ball out quick, and I wondered if that might have to do with a philosophy of more zone schemes. Am I wrong?

Ingram will need to step in if needed, and I think he can do a competent job

No

Just throwing it out there. Even going back to last year it seemed we were vulnerable to the quick passing game.

You start Shakir, Coleman, and Palmer of course. Shavers is the new Mack Hollins as the 4th guy and the gunner on special teams. And having a guy like Davis as the 5th guy that already has a bond with Josh would not be a bad idea. I think they unfortunately do an injury settlement with Samuel, and Moore gets cut unless he showed a lot in the scrimmages with Chicago. Shenault or Hamler might stick as WR/return guy, and you stash Wilkerson on the practice squad.

If I was a coach and saw a player yawning during a game, especially when trying to win a job, Ivthink I’d cut him then and there.

I didn’t see Lewis play last night? Could be he starts next to Rapp.

Right now I think the starting safeties are Rapp and Lewis. Lewis gets a bad rap because of that one play against the Vikings, but to me he offers a lot more than Hamlin. Bishop needs to get his butt in gear as the third guy, and Hancock is 4th. And Hamlin gets cut.

Seems to me Shavers has more than earned the spot behind Shakir, Coleman, and Palmer. Moore will have to fight it out with guys like Hamler. I think they may wind up giving Samuel an injury settlement

Not panicking at all. Just an observation that teams might be seeing an opening for the shorter, quicker routes against our D.

I am not the sort to panic over a couple preseason games but I have noticed that, in both games so far, the quick pass has been pretty successful. It nullified the rush for the most part, and sitting in zone allowed WRs to get open in a regular basis. So I’m wondering if this might force a switch from a zone dominant scheme more to a man concept. Many here are much better scholars of strategy than me so please weigh in.

Don’t know that I’d give thumbs up to anyone other than Shavers. Agree with all your thumbs down but would add Hamlin, our rookie DT Walker - he has to learn to play with his pads lower, and Codrington. I think they want a returner that can also back up a position on the field and Codrington showed he’s not capable of playing corner. All in all a lot of guys put their potential of playing in the NFL in jeopardy.

Hamlet is a good example of what coaches will look for in cuts. Veteran WR has to get both feet down on that one pass. I suspect McD will go nuts over lack of attention to detail.

Only guy on offense that could start is maybe Shavers.

I think they give a damn. They just aren’t playing well

They are not doing anything complex tonight.

Yep, they may be playing themselves off the team